The Department of Basic Education has teamed up with business to launch a mobile education programme aimed at increasing teachers’ and students’ access to superior teaching resources through cloud computing.
Most schools in SA struggle to access academic resources, with statistics from the department indicating that only 7% of schools have a stocked library. Only 23% of schools have a computer "centre", with only 10% having sufficient computers.
"Through this initiative, teachers will now be able to use cloud computing to access vital content, teacher aids and resources to help deliver quality education," Vodacom CEO Pieter Uys said last week.
The Vodacom Mobile Education Programme — a partnership between the department, Vodacom, Microsoft, Cisco and Mindset Learn — will establish nine information and communications technology (ICT) centres, each serving 200 schools. This would reduce the need for physical infrastructure in schools by providing direct access to an internet-based "cloud" of applications and academic databases, Mr Uys said.
Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga last week welcomed the initiative, saying that it would go a "long way" to addressing the education system’s "ICT challenge".
Mr Uys said the programme would help level the playing field for rural schools, which often did not have access to the same quality of teaching materials as urban schools.
In addition to this, 2400 principals in Gauteng had been connected to the department and each other through a reporting management application run on BlackBerry cellphones. This would be rolled out nationally, enabling greater communication between the department and school administrations.
The ICT centres would also serve as training centres and provide ICT infrastructure and tools to teachers.
Cisco SA GM David Meads said access to comprehensive academic material was necessary as "shortfalls in IT business skills persist across our region and governments are increasingly concerned about digital exclusion and the need to optimise the entire workforce".
Cloud computing would contribute to a comprehensive, 21st century learning experience that enabled students to develop the foundational ICT skills needed to design, build and manage networks, along with career skills such as problem solving and critical thinking, he said.
News By:
businessday.co.za
Most schools in SA struggle to access academic resources, with statistics from the department indicating that only 7% of schools have a stocked library. Only 23% of schools have a computer "centre", with only 10% having sufficient computers.
"Through this initiative, teachers will now be able to use cloud computing to access vital content, teacher aids and resources to help deliver quality education," Vodacom CEO Pieter Uys said last week.
The Vodacom Mobile Education Programme — a partnership between the department, Vodacom, Microsoft, Cisco and Mindset Learn — will establish nine information and communications technology (ICT) centres, each serving 200 schools. This would reduce the need for physical infrastructure in schools by providing direct access to an internet-based "cloud" of applications and academic databases, Mr Uys said.
Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga last week welcomed the initiative, saying that it would go a "long way" to addressing the education system’s "ICT challenge".
Mr Uys said the programme would help level the playing field for rural schools, which often did not have access to the same quality of teaching materials as urban schools.
In addition to this, 2400 principals in Gauteng had been connected to the department and each other through a reporting management application run on BlackBerry cellphones. This would be rolled out nationally, enabling greater communication between the department and school administrations.
The ICT centres would also serve as training centres and provide ICT infrastructure and tools to teachers.
Cisco SA GM David Meads said access to comprehensive academic material was necessary as "shortfalls in IT business skills persist across our region and governments are increasingly concerned about digital exclusion and the need to optimise the entire workforce".
Cloud computing would contribute to a comprehensive, 21st century learning experience that enabled students to develop the foundational ICT skills needed to design, build and manage networks, along with career skills such as problem solving and critical thinking, he said.
News By:
businessday.co.za
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